Flawless

This story hooked me! Rhett, the bull-riding golden boy, gets saddled with Summer, his agent's daughter, as his babysitter. What starts as a bumpy ride turns into an electrifying, enemies-to-lovers romance. Rhett may seem cocky, but he's got depth, and Summer, dealing with her past, learns to find her voice and happiness. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the banter had me in stitches. Elsie Silver's writing is addictive, blending humor, steam, and emotion perfectly. The small-town setting and supporting characters, like Rhett's family and Summer's best friend, add layers to the story. This isn't your typical cowboy romance; it's an all-consuming, intoxicating read. I can't wait for more from this series!

I have written before about how surprising I find it that I am into hockey romance. (And yes, after years of being ribbed about this by my friends, I do feel validated by Heated Rivalry's popularity.) But also I actually did date a Canadian hockey player for a minute in my late teens, so that is there. Lately, I have been grooving on cowboy romance, and that surprises me even more. I am not a horsey girl, my reverence for open spaces is limited to hikes, or at best, weekends. I don't get fluttery at all when I see a man in a Stetson; quite the opposite, actually. So I don't know what is going on, but this sweet sexy tale of the lawyer and the bull-rider totally worked for me. There was some major over-reaction from Summer, but she is in show more her early 20's so I can live with that. Rhett is a little too desperate, but there are worse things. Overall, my time in Calgary and the surrounding ranchlands was really good. I will be returning to Chestnut Springs soon. show less

I’m grateful to have read “Flawless” by Elsie Silver because now I know which kind of book does not really appeal to me. Rich daddy’s princess meets bull-riding cowboy in this steamy rural romance and that’s pretty much it for the story.

It’s all just a bit too much over the top for: Summer is our princess, whose sister is called Winter. Summer is nice and warm and a people-pleaser whereas Winter is cold as ice. Not to mention Summer's evil step-mother!

Lots of manly cowboys, sports legends, and ranchers are around, every man is tough, every woman is swooning. Summer desires to be - brace yourself! - “marked” by her cowboy Rhett…

Rhett in turn obligingly is of the possessive variety…

»She better be naked. Naked and show more ready.«

… and the resulting smut is, uh, verbose. (Even, though, that is, admittedly, the least of my complaints.)

The entire picture that Silver paints of people is approaching painful levels of machismo and it depicts a rather simplistic view of the world as a whole.

I do not expect much of a romance but I do expect more than just horny cowboys, willing women and a bit of drama.

Still: Three out of five stars because among all the eye-roll-inducing stuff lurk some ideas and observations that I can relate to…

»“When you have a kid, everyone warns you about the sleepless nights. The explosive diaper changes. How they grow so fast that you hemorrhage money on clothing them. What they don’t tell you is that you’ll never spend another day of your life without worrying about another person. You’ll never completely relax again because that person you created will always, always be on your mind. You’ll wonder where they are, what they’re doing, and if they’re okay.”«

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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less

Time of death 46%. Thank you wanker cowboy, you’re dismissed.

To everyone who said it was great, I hope you will forgive me but I found this book cringy and boring… I couldn’t care less about the supposedly sexy cowboy with a ponytail (a ponytail! It’s 2023! Maybe a mustache too?!) and his princess.

Their chemistry was nonexistent and the guy was annoying and disgusting. He didn’t even know her yet and he was already having an inner monologue about her ‘cherry lips’ around his cock

Overall pretty good. I enjoyed Summer's story and personal growth, especially as she's a people pleaser. Rhett's family is funny and had me laughing out loud. The ending really solidified the rating for me. I liked how relatable the characters were (hello, also a people pleaser) and the banter between the main characters. I also liked how their individual lives and issues didn't get solved with a pretty bow by the end of the book, it lent towards the realness of the characters. I will definitely be picking up more by Elsie Silver, her writing style just hits me right, and I will also be continuing the series.

I picked this one up for a buddy read and I'm so glad I did!

I rarely see bull riders in the romances I read so this was a really fun change for me. She was sent to clean up his image and his only job was to keep his hands to himself. I would say together they did a 50-50 job.

I never thought applying Icy Hot could be so sexy but maybe I've been doing it wrong.

Summer Hamilton is happy to be working in her father's company as a sports agent. When her father announces that her first assignment is to babysit rodeo bull rider, Rhett Eaton, Summer knows she has her work cut out for her. Between the youthful crush she once had on him or his recent behavior that has cost him sponsors, Summer isn't sure she is up to the task. The longer she works with Rhett, though, the more she finds to admire, and she's not sure if that long-ago crush is really dead.

Flawless is a unique romance that takes place in the world of the rodeo. The plot is fairly simple, almost too simple, and the characters, likable. Many heavy topics are introduced but only briefly explored as the majority of the narrative focuses on show more the romance. At times the drama boarders on cringey, but is reeled in before it gets too over-the-top. Overall, Flawless is a very good romance, but does not quite live up to the hype. show less